I have decided to start this photo blog off with what I believe to be one of the final sets to come from Belchertown State School. The state school for the feeble minded opened in 1922 to take in clients from the Fernald School in Waltham and Wrentham State School. Almost from the beginning BSS was a hell hole with beds piled wall to wall in the wards, open sewage spilling into buildings, clients wasting away in beds they were never allowed to leave. The school was finally closed down in the late 1970's, the result of a class action lawsuit enacted by parents, friends, and representatives of the patients and aside from a few small additions, the campus has been abandoned for more than 20 years.
This photo was taken inside the theater which was the main building on the campus. Clients came to the theater on Sundays to have non-denominational church services, attend dances, and view movies such as "The Three Little Pigs" found in the deserted projection booth two years ago. The stairs to the balcony are coated with plaster dust and debris but still lead to a fairly sturdy U-shaped collection of seats that look down on the main floor that has been all but destroyed by the elements- the roof is so far gone that it no longer protects the building from the damage caused by the harsh New England weather.
1 comment:
I love the photo. It's like being back in school. No I'm kidding I like being able to learn more about the history of the buildings although I will sadly never get to see them.
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